Best Public Golf Courses in Clearwater

by Hunt Brothers Realty

Clearwater offers several strong choices for public-access golf, from the historic Clearwater Country Club and waterfront setting of Cove Cay Golf Club to the shorter Landings Golf Club and challenge-filled Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club. Golfers willing to drive just beyond Clearwater can also play the restored Donald Ross course at Dunedin Golf Club and other public layouts throughout Pinellas County. The best choice depends on whether you want a traditional full-length course, Tampa Bay views, an executive-length round, golf history, or a convenient practice facility. Public access, rates, tee times and course conditions can change, so confirm details directly before playing.

Quick Answers About the Best Public Golf Courses in Clearwater

What are the best public golf courses in Clearwater?

Clearwater Country Club, Cove Cay Golf Club, Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club and The Landings Golf Club all offer public access in Clearwater. Each provides a different experience, ranging from traditional full-length golf to waterfront target golf and a shorter executive layout.

Which Clearwater golf course is best for a traditional round?

Clearwater Country Club is one of the strongest choices for traditional golf. The Herbert Strong design dates to 1920, plays to par 72, and combines mature trees, bunkering and Stevenson Creek with a central Clearwater location.

Which Clearwater public golf course has the best water views?

Cove Cay Golf Club stands out for its setting along Old Tampa Bay. The course has water on 13 of 18 holes, with holes 13 through 18 running along Tampa Bay, creating one of the area's most distinctive combinations of golf and coastal scenery.

Where can I play a shorter round in Clearwater?

The Landings Golf Club of Clearwater is an 18-hole, par-63 public course with nine par-3 holes and nine par-4 holes. Its shorter format makes it a useful option for golfers who want 18 holes without the length of a conventional par-72 course.

Does Clearwater have a public driving range?

Yes. Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club has a driving range, while Cove Cay, Clearwater Country Club and The Landings also offer practice facilities. Facilities, hours and range availability should be confirmed with the individual course before visiting.

Is Dunedin Golf Club open to the public?

Yes. Nearby Dunedin Golf Club is a public municipal course designed by Donald Ross. The historic layout underwent a major restoration in 2024 and reopened for play in December of that year.

Are there golf courses directly on Clearwater Beach?

The primary public golf options are on the Clearwater mainland and in surrounding Pinellas County communities rather than on Clearwater Beach itself. Golfers staying at the beach should allow additional travel time when crossing to mainland courses, particularly during periods of heavier traffic.

Do I need a membership to play golf in Clearwater?

Not at the public-access courses covered here. Some facilities, including Clearwater Country Club and Cove Cay, operate as semi-private clubs while also accepting public play. Tee-time availability and public booking policies should be checked directly with the course.

Which Clearwater Golf Courses Can the Public Play?

Golfers have several public-access choices within Clearwater itself. The City of Clearwater identifies Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Course, Clearwater Country Club and The Landings Golf Club among the city's public-use golf facilities. Cove Cay Golf Club separately operates as a semi-private course that is open to public play.

That gives Clearwater golfers a useful mix of course styles. You can play a historic traditional layout, choose a course along Old Tampa Bay, tackle a par-69 design filled with bunkers and water, or opt for a shorter par-63 round.

The broader St. Pete-Clearwater area expands the choices considerably, with notable public golf in nearby Dunedin, Largo, Seminole, Tarpon Springs and St. Petersburg.

1. Why Play Clearwater Country Club?

Clearwater Country Club is a strong choice for golfers who appreciate traditional course architecture and mature surroundings. The semi-private club accepts public play and is one of Clearwater's longstanding golf facilities.

Designed by Herbert Strong and originally built in 1920, the 18-hole course plays to par 72. Mature oak trees contribute to its established character, while Stevenson Creek comes into play on multiple holes. The layout is not exceptionally long by modern standards, but trees, water and strategic positioning can make accuracy important.

Clearwater Country Club also has a driving range, practice facilities, golf shop and clubhouse. Its location near central Clearwater makes it particularly convenient for golfers who want traditional golf without traveling far into northern or southern Pinellas County.

Who is Clearwater Country Club best for?

It is especially appealing to golfers looking for a full 18-hole, par-72 round with mature landscaping and an older Florida golf-course character. It is also one of the more convenient choices for golfers coming from downtown Clearwater or Clearwater Beach.

2. What Makes Cove Cay Golf Club Different?

Cove Cay Golf Club distinguishes itself with an Old Tampa Bay setting and frequent water encounters. The semi-private Clearwater course is open to the public seven days a week and combines a full-length golf experience with some of the most memorable water views among Clearwater's public-access choices.

The 18-hole course plays to par 72 and offers multiple tee sets, with the longest measuring 6,079 yards according to the club. Water is present on 13 holes, and the closing stretch along Tampa Bay helps define the course's character.

The layout requires more than simply hitting for distance. Doglegs, water, bunkering and target-oriented shots can reward thoughtful club selection and positioning. The par-5 17th, which finishes at a peninsula green, is among the course's distinctive holes.

Cove Cay also maintains public practice facilities with a driving range, putting green, chipping area and practice bunker.

Who is Cove Cay best for?

Cove Cay is particularly well suited to golfers who want a full-length round with coastal scenery and significant water in play. It is also worth considering for golfers who want to combine a round with practice time at a full range and short-game facility.

3. Why Play Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club?

Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club combines public golf with a larger educational mission. A portion of golf fees supports the Chi Chi Rodriguez Academy and First Tee Clearwater programs.

The Denis Griffiths-designed course is a par-69 layout. It is relatively modest in overall length, but that does not make it an automatic low-score course. More than 70 sand traps, water hazards on 12 holes, grass bunkers and two-tiered greens create strategic challenges throughout the round.

The facility also includes a substantial driving range. That makes Chi Chi Rodriguez useful both for a complete round and for golfers who primarily want to practice.

Is Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club good for newer golfers?

Its shorter overall length can make it approachable, and the facility supports junior golf and instruction, but newer players should still expect hazards. Water and extensive bunkering mean accuracy and course management remain important.

4. Is The Landings Golf Club Good for a Shorter Round?

Yes. The Landings Golf Club of Clearwater is one of the best local choices when you want 18 holes without playing a conventional full-length course. The public facility is a par-63 design with nine par-3 holes and nine par-4 holes.

The course was established in 1970 and was formerly known as Clearwater Executive Golf Course. It was designed by Ron Garl and is located behind Clearwater Airpark off Hercules Avenue.

The Landings measures 4,472 yards from the back tees according to Visit St. Pete-Clearwater. Its mix of par-3 and par-4 holes can make it useful for golfers working on irons, wedges and positional play while still providing the rhythm of an 18-hole round.

Who should choose The Landings?

Consider The Landings when you want a shorter course, are sharpening your iron game, or simply prefer an executive-style layout. Golfers should still allow adequate time for an 18-hole round and verify current tee-time availability directly with the course.

5. Is Dunedin Golf Club Worth the Short Drive From Clearwater?

For golfers interested in historic architecture, Dunedin Golf Club is one of the most compelling public courses in the immediate Clearwater area. It is in neighboring Dunedin rather than Clearwater, but its Donald Ross pedigree and recent restoration make it an important addition to a Clearwater golf itinerary.

The course opened in 1927 and later served as the home of the PGA of America from 1945 through 1962. It is an 18-hole, par-72 layout measuring 6,745 yards from its longest listed tees.

In 2024, architect Kris Spence led a comprehensive restoration intended to recover the characteristics of Ross's original design. The project restored green complexes and bunkers, added new tees, upgraded drainage and irrigation, and introduced new turf. The course reopened in December 2024.

The restoration has since received industry recognition. The City of Dunedin reported in 2026 that Golfweek ranked the course among Florida's top public-access courses, while Golf Inc. previously recognized the project as its public-course Renovation of the Year.

Who should play Dunedin Golf Club?

Dunedin is the nearby choice for golfers who place architecture and golf history high on the list. Its restored Donald Ross design provides a distinctly different experience from Clearwater's waterfront and executive options.

What Other Public Golf Courses Are Near Clearwater?

Clearwater's central Pinellas County location puts additional public golf within practical reach. Golfers planning several rounds can broaden the search beyond the city rather than playing the same layout repeatedly.

East Bay Golf Club in Largo

East Bay Golf Club is a public 18-hole, par-71 course in nearby Largo. The club describes its traditional layout as a 1961 design with elevated, well-bunkered greens and water affecting play on 14 holes. It also has a practice range, putting green, pro shop and clubhouse.

Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club in Seminole

Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club offers another public-access option south of Clearwater. The course has hosted professional golf events and was renovated by PGA professional and golf architect Gary Koch. Its practice facilities and full-length layout make it worth considering for golfers exploring more of Pinellas County.

Which Clearwater Golf Course Is Best for You?

The right course depends on what kind of golf experience you want. Clearwater's public-access courses are different enough that there is no need to identify one universal winner.

For traditional Clearwater golf: Clearwater Country Club
For Old Tampa Bay views: Cove Cay Golf Club
For hazards and a strong practice component: Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club
For a shorter 18-hole course: The Landings Golf Club
For historic golf architecture nearby: Dunedin Golf Club
For another traditional public layout nearby: East Bay Golf Club
For tournament history south of Clearwater: Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club

These descriptions refer to course characteristics rather than guaranteed playing conditions. Maintenance, seasonal turf conditions, aerification, weather and course projects can affect the experience on any particular day.

How Far in Advance Should You Book Clearwater Golf?

Booking policies vary by course and can change seasonally. Cove Cay, for example, currently states that public tee times may be reserved seven days in advance, while other clubs use their own booking windows and systems.

Golf demand in Florida can also vary by season, time of day and weather. If a particular course is an important part of a trip, check its official tee sheet rather than relying on an older third-party rate or availability listing.

How Much Does Public Golf Cost in Clearwater?

There is no single Clearwater golf rate because green fees can vary by course, season, day, tee time, number of holes, cart policies and promotions. Some facilities also offer memberships, junior rates, resident programs or other discounts.

For example, Cove Cay publishes different rates according to day and time, while Chi Chi Rodriguez states that its fees are set by time of day and offers reduced junior pricing. Dunedin Golf Club offers certain discounts to qualifying Dunedin residents, property owners, business owners, military members and first responders.

Because rates change, the most useful approach is to compare current tee times directly through the official course websites shortly before you intend to play.

What Is It Like to Live Near Golf in Clearwater?

Clearwater's golf choices are spread across the mainland rather than concentrated in one golf resort district. That can give buyers several ways to prioritize golf access while also considering proximity to downtown Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, Old Tampa Bay, Dunedin, major roads and everyday services.

Living near a golf course is also different from owning in a community where golf membership is bundled or mandatory. Public-access golf allows a resident to live elsewhere and simply book rounds as desired. Buyers should verify whether a specific property has any membership requirement, HOA obligation, golf-course easement, view consideration or other property-specific issue rather than assuming proximity to a course creates membership rights or obligations.

For buyers comparing golf access with beaches, boating, downtown areas and other lifestyle priorities, the Hunt Brothers Realty Florida Buyer Resource Center provides additional guidance for evaluating a Florida home purchase.

What Should Golfers Consider When Buying a Home Near a Course?

Golf-course proximity can be appealing, but buyers should evaluate the actual property rather than assuming every course-adjacent home offers the same experience. The specific lot position can affect views, privacy, golf-ball exposure, landscaping, traffic and other day-to-day considerations.

Questions worth investigating include:

Does the property actually border the golf course?
Which hole, tee, fairway or green is near the property?
What is the orientation of the home relative to normal play?
Is golf membership optional, mandatory or unrelated to property ownership?
Are there HOA or condominium assessments?
Are there separate golf or club charges?
Are course views protected by any recorded right, or could vegetation and future changes affect them?
What are the property's homeowners and flood insurance considerations?
Are there recorded easements or other title matters affecting the property?

Association obligations, title matters, insurance, flood conditions, golf memberships and property boundaries are specific to the individual property. Buyers should verify material issues with the appropriate association, golf club, licensed real estate professional, insurance agent, surveyor, title professional, Florida real estate attorney or other qualified professional before making a purchasing decision.

What Are the Best Public Golf Courses in Clearwater Overall?

Clearwater gives public golfers more variety than a single ranking suggests. Clearwater Country Club provides historic, traditional golf. Cove Cay brings Old Tampa Bay scenery and substantial water into the round. Chi Chi Rodriguez combines a strategic par-69 course with a youth-education mission, while The Landings offers a shorter par-63 alternative.

Nearby Dunedin Golf Club raises the area's golf appeal further with its restored Donald Ross architecture and public access. Add public courses in Largo, Seminole and other parts of Pinellas County, and Clearwater can work well as a base for golfers who want several different rounds rather than one resort course.

For most golfers, the best strategy is to choose according to the experience you want, then confirm current rates, maintenance schedules, tee-time policies and course conditions directly before playing.

Explore Florida Gulf Coast Living With Hunt Brothers Realty

Golf can be one part of a larger Florida lifestyle search that also includes beaches, boating, downtown access, housing style and everyday amenities. Hunt Brothers Realty helps Florida Gulf Coast buyers compare communities and properties around the lifestyle priorities that matter to them.

Use the Florida Buyer Resource Center to prepare for a property search, or contact Hunt Brothers Realty to discuss current Florida real estate options.

Golf-course information in this article is provided for general informational purposes and can change. Public access, rates, membership policies, tee-time availability, course conditions, operating hours and amenities should be confirmed directly with the applicable golf facility. Real estate, association, insurance, title, survey and other property-specific matters should be reviewed with the appropriate qualified professionals before making a purchasing decision.